Usage Public Domain

Shotlist

Produced to bring the 1956 G.M. Motorama to audiences unable to see it in major cities, this fim introduces the new 1956 cars, Frigidaire's "Kitchen of Tomorrow," and the electronic highways of the future. G.M.'s "dream cars" of the 1950s, including the Oldsmobile Golden Rocket and the turbine-powered Pontiac Firebird II, are also displayed. One of the more self-consciously surreal films in our collection, Design for Dreaming often looks like a Hollywood musical. A Fifties-style sleeping beauty is awakened into a dream by a magician dressed in tails who hands her an invitation to the Motorama at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. She flies through the nighttime sky to the hotel, where she sees the milling crowds and marvels at the new cars. With the magician she expresses her desires ("I want a Corvette..."; "This Buick's a beaut...Oh, what a dreamy ride! I think that I'd like to buy it!") until suddenly an apron appears around her waist and he carries her into the "Kitchen of Tomorrow." She briefly laments the plight of woman but is distracted by the wonders of the machine that reads recipes off computer cards, the glass-walled refrigerator, and the hemispherical glass oven that seems to be able to make a cake with lighted birthday candles on top. Dancing through the kitchen, she contemplates the life of leisure made possible by its labor-saving devices ("Tick, tock, tick, tock, I'm free to have fun around the clock!") until her cake is ready. As she blows out the candles, she is transported back to the Motorama, where the "dream cars" are presented by models sporting various designer outfits of the time. Her magician guides her into the Firebird II, which seems to have inspired John DeLorean's innovations twenty years later, calls the traffic dispatch center by radio, and they are off onto the electronic highway of tomorrow. As they ride through a futuristic urban landscape incorporating building models and real slot cars, the couple sings a duet linking their love to technological progress. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, our dreams will come true/Tomorrow, tomorrow, we'll make the world new/Strange shapes will rise out of the night/But our love will not change dear/It will be like the sun burning bright/Riding away/When tomorrow meets today!"




Ken Smith sez: The ultimate '50s Futurrific film. Totally out of control. A woman with a Shirley MacLaine page boy hairdo is escorted by a guy wearing a gold ballroom mask to the G.M. "Motorama". The all-singing soundtrack assaults the ears, as a fourth-string Nelson Eddy/Jeanette MacDonald team shriek poorly-structured lyrics such as "Girls don't go to Motoramas dressed in a pair of pink pajamas." The "Dance of Tomorrow" is a high point, as is the electric racing set that's supposed to represent a freeway interchange of the future. "To-mahhhhh-row, To-mahhhhh-row, Our dreams will come truuuuuuuuue...." Your life will not be complete until you see this film.

20:02:12:00 - 20:02:17:00
TC: "Design for Dreaming" over city skyline at night
20:02:17:00 - 20:03:36:00
CU woman sleeping; track out to MS woman in bed with satin backboard and bright blue drape (simulation of starry night sky in BG); MLS woman in bed as handsome man, wearing tuxedo, top hat and gold eye mask, enters room; MS man gracefully presents her with an invitation (served on a silver platter); man magically disappears as she inspects the heart-shaped invitation; CU invitation reading "Special Invitation to the General Motors Motorama"; MS woman animatedly gets out of bed and dances across room to mirror; as she peers through the mirror her pink satin pajamas magically turn into a beautiful ball gown; she dances around and her invitation blows off the bed into the night sky; she leaps off her bed and into the air, flying past lighted city buildings; MS man in tuxedo, top hat and gold eye mask holding the invitation (sign reading "Information" over his head); woman lands and dances toward man; CU woman looking o.s.; MS man has disappeared and woman dances over to the invitation (suspended in the air); she takes it and dances o.s.
20:03:36:00 - 20:04:08:00
MS woman enters room and is greeted by man wearing tuxedo, top hat and gold eye mask; she presents her heart-shaped invitation as she politely curtsies (wall and balcony draped with black velvet and glitter); low angle MS woman looking over balcony with awed expression; high angle LS mass of people crowded around car displays; man directs woman's attention o.s. then magically disappears; woman looks around as theatre glasses appear in her hand; woman looking around intercut with shots of the crowd
20:04:08:00 - 20:05:32:00
MS mass of people gathered around something; woman in ball gown enters frame, running to see what people are looking at; she peaks around people and jumps up and down but cannot see; man in top hat, tuxedo and gold eye mask magically appears and walks over to her, lifting her up over the crowd; VS woman (lifted in the air) looking at a bright, red convertible on display; man carries her over to another display of a new, white car; MS car revolving on a turn table; man carries woman to another display of a new, white convertible; high angle MS convertible on display turn table; man carries woman to another display of a blue convertible; MCU rippling frame settles on woman in drivers seat of blue convertible, smiling; frame ripples; man carries woman away to final display of a silver Cadillac; MCU Cadillac as woman steps out of back seat; she gets out, opens an umbrella and has her photograph taken; magically umbrella disappears and a black and white striped cooking apron appears around her waist; she steps up onto the railing and swooningly falls over as man in tuxedo, top hat and eye mask catches her and carries her away
20:05:32:00 - 20:06:25:00
MS "the kitchen of the future"; man in top hat, tuxedo and gold eye mask enters carrying woman wearing ball gown; he sets her down and, with a twirl, he magically disappears; she looks around for him then, curiously, begins to search through the kitchen; MCU woman dancing around; she picks up a card and inserts it into a slot on the cabinet; CU picture of a cake appears on a screen in front of her; woman pushes a button and an electric beater lowers from the cabinets; another push of a button and beater begins to operate; woman walks over to "the refrigerator of the future" and with a push of a button it begins revolving and displaying food; MS woman looks o.s., surprised, as a cart carrying a cake pan moves toward her; she pushes a button and "the oven of the future" opens; she puts the cake in the oven, pushes a button and happily skips out of the room
20:06:25:00 - 20:06:56:00
MS marble post in middle of a room (plants and stained-window panes in BG); woman in ball gown enters frame and happily skips behind the post, out of view; she dances around the other side of the post wearing tennis attire and swinging a tennis racquet; she skips back behind post and dances around the other side wearing golf attire, twirling and swinging a golf club; she skips back behind the post and a bench appears; she skips around the other side wearing a swimsuit and big straw hat; she lays on bench and lifts her legs in the air; she hops up, skips behind the post again as the bench disappears; she skips around the other side wearing ball gown with black and white striped apron tied around her waist; she happily skips o.s.
20:06:56:00 - 20:07:14:00
MS "the kitchen of the future"; woman wearing ball gown and black and white striped apron enters kitchen, animated and happy; she turns off "the oven of the future" and removes a cake (already frosted with candles on it); she sets cake down on cabinet and the candles magically light; she closes her eyes and crosses her fingers, making a wish; low angle MCU woman blows out candles and a thick, dreamy smoke rises
20:07:14:00 - 20:08:04:00
Thick dreamy smoke fades revealing woman on stage dressed in ball gown; she walks to center stage smiling and twirling; high angle MS people in audience, applauding; MCU woman curtsies; CU woman grinning; high angle MS audience clapping in unison to a beat; VS woman dancing around performing on a stage; MCU woman stops and, as the lights fade, she throws glitter in the air
20:08:04:00 - 20:09:14:00
Low angle fireworks exploding against a black night sky intercut between VS cars being displayed on turn tables at a car show; women standing beside cars modeling designer clothing; car types include El Dorado, Centurion, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Impala
20:09:14:00 - 20:10:20:00
High angle MS people in audience looking up with awed expressions; MCU man wearing tuxedo, top hat and gold eye mask leaps into frame, looking sneaky and saying "Shhh"; MS people in audience looking into camera, all saying "Shhh"; MCU man in mask pointing o.s., amazed; MS man in mask standing beside "the car of the future" on display turn table, smoke all around; he opens door and motions an invitation to woman (o.s.); VS woman steps off ledge and magically glides down to the ground and, in slow motion, runs to the car; MS man puts wrap around her shoulders and they get in car; MCU people in audience looking into camera, awed; MCU man and woman sitting in car as top lowers; man's mask magically disappears, woman is surprised; man turns gadget overhead and talks into it; high angle CU front lights emerging from behind fender on "the car of the future"; man finishes talking and the rear fin of the car is seen as they drive away, leaving a thick dreamy smoke behind; MCU people in audience, awed
20:10:20:00 - 20:11:24:00
VS man and woman, both formally dressed, riding in "the car of the future" and looking around, awed; MS the road in front of them (it looks very smoky, futuristic and space-like); VS cars driving along "the highways of the future" (with "the cities of the future" in the BG); MCU man and woman look at one another and lean their heads together, smiling
20:11:25:00 - 20:11:27:00
TC: The End


I dreamt last night the moon was so bright it melted the walls away and it wasn't alarming when I saw a Prince Charming come into my bedroom and say . . . [Design For Dreaming woman sleeping bedrooms]
Let me persuade you to come to the place where tomorrow meets today. Oooh, Thank you it sounds very exciting. May I come just as I am? [Special Invitation to The General Motors Motorama hearts reaction shots]
Hey, girls don't go to Motoramas dressed in a pair of pink pajamas. Maybe they don't but I don't care, haven't got a single thing to wear. Quick, please, a gown. Oooh, I'll be the talk of the town. [excitement dancing mirrors dresses gowns]
Oh my! Go after it, fly! I followed my heart through the night past a thousand windows yellow with light. Down, down it fell, and it landed in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. [cities lights flying dancing Thelma Tad Tadlock transitions]
I'm a girl who happens to think that a brand new car is better than mink. Excited? Delighted. So glad I got invited. Since it's just a dream and involves no money which one would you like me to buy you, honey? [crowds reaction shots Motorama audiences]
They're all so beautiful, I really don't know, so let me go down, get the lowdown, and look at each one much closer. [opera glasses]
I want a Corvette. I thought you would. [Chevrolet Corvettes turntables Motoramas]
Oooh I want a Pontiac too. Okay, we'll have the usual two-car garage.
How do you feel about this fine Oldsmobile? It's easy to see myself taking the wheel.
This Buick's a beaut. I'll try it. Oooh, what a dreamy ride! I think that we ought to buy it. [special effects special efx ecstasy turntables pleasure dreams fantasies abandonment]
Let's go all out and buy a Cadillac too. I can hardly wait for this dream to come true. [umbrellas cameras flashes photographers photography]
Hey lady, your apron is showing. Better get her into the kitchen quick. Just like a man, you give him a break, and you wind up in the kitchen, baking a cake. [sexism gender roles sex roles housewives domestic labor women workers kitchens marriage slavery servitude capture captivity swooning fainting weakness kidnapping abduction wonder excitement surprise marvel]
But this was a kitchen like none I'd seen. Put a card in the slot and onto the screen pops a picture of just how your dish will look plus all the ingredients you need to cook. No need for the bride to feel tragic, the rest is pushbutton magic. So whether you bake or broil or stew, the Frigidaire kitchen does it all for you. [dancing kitchens Kitchen of Tomorrow Kitchen of the Future computers screens automation mixers appliances futurism futuristic technology refrigerators]
Don't have to be chained to the stove all day, just set the timer and you're on your way. Tick, tock, tick, tock, I'm free to have fun around the clock. Jeepers, I'm exhausted! Ring! The Kitchen of tomorrow is calling me. My cake is ready. [dancing kitchens Kitchen of Tomorrow Kitchen of the Future automation appliances futurism futuristic technology ovens cakes baking leisure sports tennis changing clothes golfing swimsuits bathing suits]
Time for the show, everybody on stage. And now, a glamorous dancer in a special number, Dance of Tomorrow. [Thelma Tad Tadlock fingers crossed crossing fingers transitions futurism futuristic dancing blowing out candles smoke applause crowds reaction shots audiences bows]
Everyone says the future is strange, but I have a feeling some things won't change. Now, the dream cars of tomorrow! [dance of tomorrow futuristic dancing futurism applause crowds audiences reactions twirls confetti fireworks drumrolls]
A magnificent El Dorado town car by Cadillac. Ensemble by Christian Dior of Paris. [dream cars fashions]
Buick presents the sleek Centurion. Driving coat by Montesano of New York. [dream cars fashions pets animals]
Oldsmobile's elegant Golden Rocket. Sports outfit by Pat Fremo of Los Angeles. [Primo dream cars fashions]
Pontiac's Club de Mer, open to the sky. Costume by Emilio of Capri. [dream cars fashions]
Chevrolet's Impala, graceful and swift. Silk casual by Digby Morton of London. [dream cars fashions]
Shhhhh . . . and last of all, designed for the electronic highway of the future, the fabulous, turbine-powered, Firebird II. Oooh, Ahhh. Why, it's you. [dream cars flying special effects special efx descending fur stoles ecstasy audiences reaction shots crowds Pontiac Firebird II Firebird 2 Firebird Two futurism futuristic automobiles fins tailfins]
Firebird II to control tower, we are about to take off on the highway of tomorrow, stand by. [radio communication headlights tailfins fins]
Tomorrow, tomorrow, our dreams will come true. Together, together, we'll make the world new. Strange shapes will rise out of the night, but our love will not change, dear. It will be like a star burning bright, lighting our way, when tomorrow meets today. [The End. futurism futuristic vehicles traveling romance couples automatic highways automatic roads automation amazement Christmas ornaments glass balls slot cars models model cities architecture end titles graphic design]

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